5 Awesome Books for This Summer’s Gay Beach Romps

Staff members at Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room share their favorite new books available at our iconic LGBT bookstore. Today, Assistant Manager Becky Hanno gives us her beach-trip picks.

Becky Hanno

Becky Hanno is an assistant manager at Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni's Room. Most of her free time is spent making music and planning elaborate art projects with friends. She currently lives in Fishtown.

“Octavia's Brood” by various authors

Appropriately dubbed 'visionary fiction', Octavia's Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements is a must-read collection of social justice meets science fiction. With horror, fantasy, magical realism, and the whole spectrum of speculative fiction, this anthology is deeply necessary and exciting!

Love in the Time of Global Warming by Francesca Lia Block

A magical modern-day Odyssey! This dreamlike story will suspend your belief and take you on a journey through the ruins of post-apocalyptic LA. Worth a read if you're a fan of the surreal!

Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Light-hearted and relatable, this book deals with teenage Internet romance and the perils of coming out in a messy, dramatic high school environment. Simon is fun to root for and his relationships feel very honest.

Malcolm: A Comic Novel by James Purdy

This recently reissued paperback is the story of a naive and beautiful boy encountering all sorts of extravagant characters in an at times heartfelt, at times comic journey. It is poignant without being overly deliberate with allegory, and the odd sweetness and strange dialogue definitely make it a perfect beach read.

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie​

Adapted from Adichie's moving TED Talk, this quick read is nothing short of brilliant. Wonderfully articulated and engaging, Adichie's experiences and candor are refreshing and her message is a powerful one that will resonate with everybody.